Car Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Revenge is sweet with super sipper

By David Booth Brian Harper, Postmedia News

Originally published: June 2, 2011

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Brian Harper: Call it a case of fortuitous timing, but I happened to pick up Hyundai’s new Sonata Hybrid the same day gasoline prices in Toronto spiked to a previously unseen $1.40 a litre. It’s amazing what such a well-publicized consumer screwing does to rational thought. The normal cost/benefit argument against hybrids (i.e., how many years it takes before the added cost of buying a hybrid vehicle instead of a conventional gas-powered equivalent is finally outweighed by the fuel savings) goes right out the window. Instead, you look to a hybrid as a form of revenge — a way to deprive Big Oil from stealing one more cent from your hard-fought paycheque.

The singular beauty in using the Sonata Hybrid as said instrument of revenge is that, as Hyundai’s first foray into North America with a hybrid, the mid-sized sedan is crammed with the newest fuel-saving technology available. This makes it the least compromised car of its kind in terms of user friendliness and overall driving feel.

David Booth: I agree with you that the Hyundai, right out of the gate, is one of the best hybrids on the market. By sticking with a conventional transmission rather than one of those ultra-annoying CVTs, the driving experience is much more pleasurable than most representatives of the breed. The power is good, if not quite scintillating and, as you mentioned, it feels more conventional than most hybrids, in the very best sense of the word.

That said, I’m not totally sold on the hybrid idea yet. Yes, if you’re a committed ecoweenie and drive in a hybrid-specific fuel-sipping manner, you will garner significant fuel savings. However, drive it conventionally, as I do all my cars, and a hybrid is little different than a conventional automobile of the same size and power. That’s in complete contrast to diesel-powered cars, which show a modest advantage when driven timidly but really shine if you have a lead foot. I averaged 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres in the Hyundai, a far cry from the 5.6/4.6 L/100 km city/highway rating from Transport Canada. More specifically, it’s about half a litre more per 100 km than I averaged in a BMW 335d turbodiesel, which is faster and more powerful.

BH: David, did you do all of your driving on a race track — or just on the highway at some illegal rate of knots? I spent a fair amount of time motoring about the city, which is where hybrids really shine, and averaged 6.9 L/100 km during my week with the car. And I didn’t drive in a “specific” manner either. That said, I wasn’t looking for scintillating acceleration, just a car that keeps up with the steady flow of traffic without being a hindrance. The fact is, except for a few occasions when a heavier foot was called for — such as merging on to the highway — I drove the Sonata in Eco mode. It’s no dilettante — not with a net output of 206 horsepower from the combination of 2.4-litre gasoline engine and 40-horsepower electric motor.

DB: I have to admit that the Sonata surprised me with its more-than-acceptable highway mileage (a typical hybrid soft spot). At 110 km/h, it was still metering out a totally credible 5.9 L/100 km. Moving up to a keeping-up-with-the-Jones 130 km/h, though, it started sucking back close to eight litres for every 100 km. That’s not half bad, but it’s about a litre more than the aforementioned 335d. Better, yes, than most conventional cars but still not as good as a simple diesel on the highway.

That said, the Sonata drives better than any hybrid I’ve sampled. The key really was Hyundai’s decision to stick with the conventional six-speed automatic transmission. In most circumstances, the Sonata Hybrid feels totally conventional. There is some throttle lag in some passing situations — as if the car is deciding whether it wants to let you consume that much gasoline. Nonetheless, it is the most pleasant hybrid experience I’ve had.

BH: Agreed. There was a — dare I say it — sportiness to the Sonata I haven’t experienced with other hybrids. Hyundai makes much fuss over the fact the car’s Hybrid Blue Drive is the first and only system using lightweight lithium polymer battery technology, rather than the nickel-metal hydride and lithium ion setups used by competitors. According to the automaker, lithium polymer offers the benefits of lithium ion, but it adds robustness, power density and package flexibility. That remains to be seen, but the lithium polymer battery pack does help make the Sonata Hybrid the lightest vehicle in the segment at just 1,574 kilograms. That’s more than 100 kg lighter than the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

DB: That feeling of conventionality also lets you notice that the basic Sonata platform is another giant step forward for Hyundai. From its almost radical good looks to the spacious cabin with a near-premium appearance, the Sonata has truly left the cheap and cheerful motif behind. I could do without the de rigueur green displays — a little digital tree monitors the environmental impact of your driving style — but the rest of the dashboard display is top-notch.

BH: Come on, David, those displays are the real reward for driving a hybrid. I absolutely geeked out on the Eco Level scoring system, which acknowledges green-focused motoring with eight levels of sky colour ranging from grey to bright blue. That said, I was disappointed there was no payout for accumulating points in Total Eco mode.

DB: My God, is that what the world is coming to? Instead of getting our thrills actually driving the car, our joy (says he, stealing a tagline from BMW) is in nerding out on some digital ecoweenie widget built into the dashboard? For shame! All kidding aside, though, this Sonata is an admirable first hybrid for the South Korean company. I can’t wait to try its plug-in hybrid, which is promised for 2013.

BH: Compromises are few. At 10.7 cubic feet, the Hybrid’s trunk is significantly smaller than the regular Sonata’s. And the car’s steering feel could be improved. Much like the Sonata 2.0T I drove recently, the Hybrid’s steering has a wooden, heavy feel on centre, with a varying amount of resistance off centre. As for the equally wooden feel for which hybrid car brakes are known — a result of the regenerative setup to recharge the batteries — it was blessedly absent in the Sonata. That said, the car’s brakes were grabby on a few damp mornings until they dried out.

The Sonata may be late to the hybrid party, but Hyundai brought better technology with it. The car looks good, drives like a regular gas-powered model (mostly) and delivers superior fuel economy. Best of all, at $29,999 for the base model, it’s reasonably priced and well equipped. If I really wanted to do my part sticking it to Big Oil, this is the car with which I would be doing the sticking.

DB: I have to admit that this Hyundai sedan, unlike other hybrids, doesn’t suck. More importantly, even if I am not totally convinced about hybrids, I am certainly a fan of the basic Sonata.